A/N: In this next chapter, we'll be moving on from last week's episode, the reversal of time is over and has been fixed. Barry eventually found the right timeline, and everyone is Okay, but suspicions still remain about Dr. Wells (via Joe) and Eddie (via Wells) and their connection to the villainous yellow speedster. In this story, WestAllen is together in present time (possibly, the finale), and they will try to come to terms with their new status as a couple. But there are loose ends that need to be tied up, meaning Eddie and Linda. Read on! Thank you so much for reading.

Please be warned: From this point to the end of the story, spoilers/speculation for unaired scenes ahead. Read on!

~o~o~

Chapter 6: Through the Storm

The next day after the encounter at the lake:

Barry entered STAR Labs with a bounce to his step. He'd spoken to Iris a short while ago and Eddie knew the truth about them. He took it badly, but she would be moving out and back home to her Father's house that evening. Excited and thrilled beyond belief, he quickly told his friends the news.

"Wow, really?" Cisco asked, stunned a bit.

"Yeah, she's moving tonight; isn't that great?"

Cisco and Caitlin glanced at each other.

Dr. Wells had a rather odd expression. Barry took it wrong. "What is it? What's going on?" Barry asked. "I thought you guys would be thrilled about us getting together. She loves me and I love her. It's always been that way."

"We know that Barry, but something has come up about … the yellow speedster," Cisco replied.

"What; have you found him?" Barry asked, coming closer.

"Yes, we have, and you may want to sit down," Dr. Wells replied.

Barry stiffened. "Just tell me."

"We think he's connected to … Eddie Thawne," he lied.

Barry relaxed but decided not to tell them about his future self. "I suspected it."

"You did, but Iris could be in danger. We have to get her away from him like right now," Caitlin said actually worried about her.

"He won't hurt her," Barry said, convinced of it.

"But the yellow speedster could hurt her; they're connected," Cisco also stressed his point.

"I think it's a stretch, but," Barry began.

Caitlin and Cisco glanced at each other. "We've been investigating what happened to Simon Stagg. He's missing and the police were here a little while ago."

Harrison spoke up. "It's purely a coincidence that I visited Stagg on the night he died."

Everyone glanced at each other. "And you think the yellow speedster could be behind it?" Barry asked.

Harrison picked up on something. "I think it's possible." It was a statement.

"Well, you have been acting strange lately; you can't deny," Caitlin voiced all of their concerns.

"It's only because I'm concerned about Barry and about Iris. The yellow speedster seems to be fixated on you Barry and your family, and that includes Detective West."

Frustrated, Barry ran his fingers through his hair. "We're sorry about doubting you, but everything has been so crazy lately. I just keep worrying about Iris," he admitted. He didn't mention Joe's suspicions about Wells being at the house that night, and that he may have killed Staggs, although he denied all of it.

"Barry, we have to do something about this. Someone is going to get hurt, and," Cisco began.

Barry stiffened. "You mean, Iris, don't you?"

"Yes, Eddie is closest to her, I mean, besides her Father," Caitlin said and winced at Barry's expression.

He narrowed his eyes. "That's going to change; the sooner, the better," he stated more determined than ever to keep her safe.

~o~o~

Meanwhile, later that same evening:

The double date fiasco would not leave Eddie's mind. It was patently obvious that something had changed between his girlfriend and Barry Allen. She didn't deny it, explicitly, and so it grew in his mind like some insidious disease that he was going to lose her. He vehemently rejected that idea, but the doubts were still there. After a rather awkward and tense dinner at the apartment, Eddie invited Iris out for a walk to talk about their double date among other things, meaning Barry Allen.

"But it's freezing outside and," she hesitated.

He stiffened and whispered, "You what?"

She did not want to argue with him. "Let me get my coat," she replied and followed him.

They drove into town and entered an area that was unfamiliar to her. "What is this place?"

"Don't you recognize it? It was where I asked you to go out with me for the first time. Don't you remember?"

"Oh yes, of course, I remember," she replied, but most of that time of her life was a blur. Barry had been in a coma for about a week and she was desperate for the companionship, plus he was a good friend.

They walked along a raised walking bridge. He took her hand. Neither of them had on gloves and it felt awkward and strange. Iris knew he felt it too. She tried to smile as they walked along. He stopped suddenly and turned to her.

"So, it's over; isn't?" Eddie asked without preamble.

Her eyes watered. "I'm so sorry."

He stiffened, but in his heart, he did have a small amount of hope that it wasn't true. He turned from her and tried to be strong. "It's Barry, isn't it?"

She couldn't lie to him, not anymore. "Yes, we love each other. I'm so sorry," she said it again.

He turned from her looked out over the bridge. "I can't change your mind." It was a statement.

"Eddie, I'm truly sorry," she said and tried not to cry. She actually did love him but as a friend.

He took a deep breath. "Please stop saying that," he snapped.

His voice startled her. He was angry and she was suddenly afraid, having never seen him angry before, not like this.

A voice came to her out of nowhere and it was vaguely familiar. She and Eddie both stepped back. "Don't you come near her," Eddie spoke as if he knew this man.

Iris was stunned but terribly afraid. It was the yellow speedster and his eyes seemed to glow a bright red. She gasped and backed up. Eddie did the same.

The yellow speedster suddenly grabbed Eddie by the throat. "Stay out of my way and you and your girlfriend will not be harmed."

"She's not … my … girlfriend," Eddie barely got the words out.

Shocked and appalled, Iris stared at Eddie with something akin to shame. Does he hate me that much?

"Well now, the truth is finally out." The yellow speedster leaned down directly in his face. "You don't deserve her. You never did." Then everything happened in slow motion. Eddie was lifted up and thrown over the railing and then he landed on the hard ground in an awkward way then he was still.

Iris screamed. "Eddie!"

The next thing she knew the yellow speedster was directly in front of her. It happened so quickly, but then she blinked and then he was gone. She blinked again and Barry was there in front of her.

She went into his arms holding him close. After a minute, she pointed to the railing. "Eddie, he," she couldn't finish.

"I'll go check on him. Don't move, Okay?"

She nodded, unable to speak. Barry quickly headed down the embankment. Eddie was alive but barely. He checked his pulse, then pulled out his cell phone and called 911.

Eddie's eyes flooded open. "Iris, is … she … alright?"

"She's okay, relax; the paramedics are coming; you're going to be Okay." Barry turned and the ambulance had just pulled up. Minutes later, he was carefully loaded onto a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

Barry escorted Iris there and waited for Joe to arrive, and then he changed and returned to the hospital to wait for news about Eddie.

~o~o~

In the hospital, a little while later:

Iris, her Father, and Barry were there waiting for word. Eddie was now in surgery. About an hour later, the doctor approached them and they thought the worst from the look of his face.

"He has a concussion and he hasn't awakened yet. He also has a punctured lung, bruised ribs and his right arm is also injured. But he will recover."

Everyone sighed with relief.

"Does he have any family to call that you know of?" The doctor asked.

Iris thought he should say something and so she did. "His parents live here in Central City, but I haven't called them yet. I wanted to wait for news." She glanced at Barry. "I'll call them now." No sooner had she said that and pulled out her cell phone, and then she fainted.

Barry caught her before she could hit the floor. "Iris, Iris, wake up!"

She awakened moments later. "That was strange." Then she glanced at Barry. "Do I know you?"

Barry glanced at Joe. "Yes, I'm a friend; my name is Barry Allen. What's your name?"

Iris was drawing a blank. "I don't know. What's happening?" Her eyes watered; she was in a panic.

"Everything is going to be alright." He helped her to stand. "Here, sit down for a minute." Barry took charge of the situation. He spoke to the doctor first. "We'll contact his parents."

"Thank you. Is your friend Okay; maybe we should?" The doctor began.

"We'll let you know; thank you, Doctor," Barry replied.

Joe sat down beside his daughter. "Iris?"

Iris blinked then she touched her chest. "My name is Iris?" She glanced at Barry. "It must be true."

Joe's eyes filled with tears. "Yes, your name is Iris West and me … I'm your Father."

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember." She was going to cry. "Why don't I remember?"

"You will in time and Barry and I will be here for you," Joe said and took her hand. She didn't pull away.

She glanced at Barry then cocked her head to the side. "Are we really friends?" She asked shyly.

"Yes, we are," Barry barely got out. "I … umm … I need to contact a friend of yours, but I need your phone. May It?"

"Yes, of course," she replied and handed it to him. She did seem to trust him.

Barry called Eddie's parents, then, "Joe, could I speak to you privately?"

"Is this about me?" Iris asked. They nodded. "Please don't shut me out. Something is wrong with me and I need to know what happened."

"Sure, but I need to speak with the doctors first about your problem. And then we can decide what to do; Okay?" Barry asked her permission.

Iris didn't know why but she said it anyway. "I do trust you, Barry."

"Thanks, Iris. I'll be right back." He left them alone. He tried to keep his composure. He called his friends at STAR Labs. He spoke to Joe about his suspicions. "The yellow speedster did something to Iris's brain and Dr. Wells may be the only one who may know why this happened. Was Dr. Wells the yellow speedster, or was he someone else?" Barry had no answers and neither did Joe.

He also spoke to the nurses on duty about head injuries and amnesia. She recommended a doctor who was also on call that night who may be able to help them.

A half-hour later, Iris was admitted to the hospital only a few doors down from Eddie. Shortly after that, his friends from STAR Labs showed up. Barry explained everything to them. They were utterly and completely shocked.

"Why would he hurt her like this?" Caitlin asked, apprehensive about Iris.

"He knows that Eddie and Iris had broken up," Barry replied, and suspected that the yellow speedster did this to hurt him. Apparently, he knew about his feelings for Iris. That was the only explanation.

"And Eddie got caught in the middle," Dr. Wells stated.

"Apparently, so, but we won't know until Iris gets her memories back and Eddie is ready to talk to the police. Then, we'll know what actually happened," Barry said. He felt awful about not getting there in time to help them both. "So tell me, Dr. Wells, how did he do this to her?"

"How would I know that?" Dr. Wells played innocently.

"We know about you," Cisco stated.

"You know what?" Dr. Wells asked, still playing innocent.

Barry was getting upset. "We don't have time for games. We know you're hiding something about the future and about speedsters."

He raised his eyebrows. "Are you insane?"

"I saw you in the future. You can walk, so get out of that chair and help me help my friends," Barry stated firmly.

He had no choice. It appears that Barry does not know his real name, or that he does not have a dual identity, so he played along. They all waited for him to stand up and he did.

Joe had just come from Iris's room and he witnessed Dr. Wells stand on his own two feet.

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: That's How Strong My Love Is, Alicia Keys.

A/N: That was very hard to write because amnesia is so tricky, but it will be devastating for them. The trick is finding a catalyst to restore memories and I have to say I haven't figured that out quite yet. So, we have to deal with this uncertainty for a while. I feel awful putting them through this, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. We may be winding down, I think. We'll see what happens. Thanks for reading, everyone. As they say, reviews/kudos is love!

Before we move on, here are a few thoughts about 'Out of Time.' Well, the kiss and the reveal happened and it was glorious. I'm also very relieved about Cisco. Whew! Now, as far as Barry inadvertently reversing time, erasing the kiss and the reveal, well, I won't be writing how that may play out. I'll watch those episodes the same as everyone. My story parallels only that Iris remembers and Barry does not; so in my fiction, all of that has been resolved. I sincerely hope Barry doesn't return to the past to try and save his Mother. But we'll see what the writers come up with in the coming weeks!